MANILA, Philippines?A multisectoral alliance in Oriental Mindoro is set to fast and hold a prayer vigil in a bid to compel the environment department to protest the Department of Environment and Natural Resources? issuance of a mining clearance to Norwegian-based Intex Resources.

?The people of Mindoro are furious with the DENR?s approval of environmental compliance certificate for the operation of the Mindoro Nickel Project by Intex Resources,? said Fr. Edwin A. Gariguez, spokesman of Alyansa Laban sa Mina (Alamin).

Gariguez said the vigil and hunger strike will be held on November 17 in front of the main office of the DENR in Quezon City.

Gariguez said that 25 hunger strikers will be joined by local government officials from both Occidental and Oriental Mindoro provinces, including Governor Arnan Panaligan of Mindoro Oriental and Governor Josephine Ramirez-Sato or Mindoro Occidental.

The hunger strike will be held ?indefinitely? until the ECC has been reconsidered and revoked by the DENR, Gariguez said.

Local church representatives led by Bishop Warlito Cajandig of the Apostolic Vicariate of Calapan, are also expected to join the group in their protest.

The DENR issued the ECC for mining project on October 14.

The project, which covers 11,216.6 hectares, is expected to produce 100 to 120 million tons of ore over a period of 15 to 20 years. The mine?s nickel laterite deposit is believed to be one of the biggest in the world.

Four towns will be covered by the project ? Victoria, Pola and Socorro in Oriental Mindoro and Sablayan in Occidental Mindoro.

Both Oriental and Occidental Mindoro provinces have issued a moratorium on large-scale mining on the island.